Whistleblower Exposes Disinformation Tactics in U.S. Elections by Cybersecurity Firm "New Knowledge"

Article by Paul D. Thacker via The Disinformation Chronicle

The disinformation industry has lost some of its luster in recent years, with numerous experts in misinformation being implicated in the very activities they claim to combat, or revealed to have connections to intelligence agencies. This is hardly surprising, as it's a fundamental principle of "mirror politics" and propaganda to accuse others of the actions you intend to commit.

The "New Knowledge" Scandal

In late 2018, both the New York Times and Washington Post reported on a leaked document that detailed a covert operation by Democratic Party operatives. The operation falsely accused Republican candidate Roy Moore of receiving Russian support during his Senate race in Alabama. The plan involved linking Moore's campaign to thousands of Russian Twitter accounts, which attracted significant media attention. The leaked documents implicated a relatively unknown company, New Knowledge, in the Alabama disinformation campaign. However, New Knowledge's CEO, Jonathon Morgan, denied the company's involvement and claimed he worked on "Project Birmingham" in a personal capacity. Despite its denial, New Knowledge continued to attract media attention. In 2023, journalist Matt Taibbi released a "Twitter Files" drop about "Hamilton 68," a public dashboard created by New Knowledge to monitor the spread of alleged pro-Russian propaganda online. However, former Twitter executive Yoel Roth expressed concerns that the dashboard was creating, not tracking, disinformation.

Uncovering the Truth

Betsy Dupuis, a former New Knowledge employee, shared her experiences and concerns about the company's activities. She claimed that New Knowledge, which marketed itself as "the world's first platform for defending online communities from social media manipulation," was actively engaging in social media manipulation. Dupuis was hired by New Knowledge to improve the Hamilton 68 dashboard, which was intended as a product for groups aligned with the Democratic Party. However, she became uncomfortable when discussions about the "Alabama Project" began.

Insider Information

Dupuis' discomfort grew when several former National Security Agency (NSA) employees joined New Knowledge. During a company drinks event, the ex-NSA employees explained to Dupuis how agencies circumvent federal laws prohibiting the U.S. government from spying on and censoring Americans: they contract companies like New Knowledge to do their dirty work. Dupuis decided to confront Jonathon Morgan about her concerns and was fired shortly afterward. Now, Dupuis is speaking out about her experiences at New Knowledge and the company's involvement in disinformation campaigns during the American election.

Conclusion

The revelations about New Knowledge's activities highlight the complexities and ethical issues surrounding disinformation in the digital age. As we continue to navigate the information landscape, it's crucial to question the sources of our information and the motivations behind them. What are your thoughts on this article? Share it with your friends and let's start a conversation. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6 pm.